Post on 25-Jul-2020
Elizabeth City - Pasquotank County Tourism Development Authority Board Meeting
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR’S REPORT | JULY 23, 2020
Marketing Updates
Reopening Safely Web Page
Information about what travelers can expect
and what we’re doing to reopen safely.
• Support Count On Me NC Businesses
• Public Health & Safety Measures by sector
See the full page: https://www.visitelizabethcity.com/Reopening-Safely
Search Engine Optimization
SEO initiative is in full-swing
• Full website analysis from a Google point of view
• Modifications to improve how the site ranks with Google
“Be A Tourist” Campaign
• Invite locals to
explore EC
• Encourage visitation
to local businesses
• 2,737 page views since
live date of July 1
We encourage Board Members to like, share, and participate!https://www.visitelizabethcity.com/Be-A-Tourist-In-Your-Hometown
Destinations International 2020 Conference | July 14-15
• Inspirational keynotes from Casey Lohrenz - U.S. Navy F-14 Tomcat Fighter Pilot and Mitch Albom - Author, Tuesdays with Morrie
• Timely sessions about adapting during the pandemic, looking forward and thought-provoking conversations on diversity and inclusion in the Tourism Industry
• 30+ combined sessions attended over the course of the two-day convention
COVID-19 & the State of the Travel Industry
“Weekly Coronavirus Impact on Travel Expenditures in the US”. US Travel Association. July 16, 2020.
Weekly Travel Spending Losses through July 11, 2020
Since the beginning of March, the COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in over $284+ BILLION in losses for the U.S. travel economy.
“Weekly Coronavirus Impact on Travel Expenditures in the US”. US Travel Association. July 16, 2020.
“Weekly Coronavirus Impact on Travel Expenditures in the US”. US Travel Association. July 16, 2020.
“Weekly Coronavirus Impact on Travel Expenditures in the US”. US Travel Association. July 16, 2020.
-7-21
-332
-368
-437
-455-446
-368
-299-290
-270
-243 -239
2/22 2/29 3/7 3/14 3/21 3/28 4/4 4/11 4/18 4/25 5/2 5/9 5/16 5/23 5/30 6/6 6/13 6/20 6/27 7/4 7/11
North Carolina
“Coronavirus Travel Sentiment Index”. Destination Analysts. July 19, 2020.
“Coronavirus Travel Sentiment Index”. Destination Analysts. July 19, 2020.
“Coronavirus Travel Sentiment Index”. Destination Analysts. July 19, 2020.
“Coronavirus Travel Sentiment Index”. Destination Analysts. July 19, 2020.
“Travel Sentiment Study”. Longwoods International. July 21, 2020.
“Travel Sentiment Study”. Longwoods International. July 21, 2020.
“Travel Sentiment Study”. Longwoods International. July 21, 2020.
“Travel Intentions Pulse Survey”. July 2020.
“Travel Intentions Pulse Survey”. July 2020.
EC Region
Actuals
EC Region
YOY Comparison
Golds-boro
Actuals
Golds-boroYOY
Comparison
Beaufort County
Actuals
Beaufort County
YOY Comparison
New Bern
Actuals
New BernYOY
Comparison
Middle OBX
Actuals
Middle OBXYOY
Comparison
Suffolk, VA
Actuals
Suffolk, VA
YOY Comparison
NC –Entire StateYOY
Comparison
NC –Northeast
RegionYOY
Comparison
Month To Date – June 2020
Occupancy 60.5% -18.7% from
June ’19
52.5% -10.7% 30.2% -54.5% 59.2% -31.5% 72.0% -10.8% 50.0% -31.8%
ADR $89.15 -10.6% $79.73 -12.0% $73.04 -6.4% $95.90 -20.9% $209.15 -4.4% $80.88 -21.8%
RevPAR $53.97 -27.4% $41.84 -21.4% $22.02 -57.4% $56.80 -45.8% $150.51 -14.8% $40.46 -46.7%
Year to Date – June, 2020
Occupancy 44.9% -28.0% 46.1% -28.0% 29.8% -43.9% 56.4% -30.1% 37.3% -36.2% 42.7% -30.0%
ADR $81.97 -7.8% $81.16 -7.1% $72.32 -7.9% $96.82 -13.2% $144.42 -8.6% $80.14 -13.2%
RevPAR $36.82 -33.6% $37.38 -33.2% $21.58 -48.3% $54.58 -39.4% $53.87 -41.7% $34.20 -39.2%
EC Region includes: 7 out of 7 properties; total rooms: 541/541
Goldsboro includes: 10 out of 15 properties; total rooms: 915/1127
Beaufort County includes: 6 out of 9 properties; total rooms: 413/548
2020 Smith Travel Research Report Measures
Northeast Region includes: Beaufort, Bertie, Camden, Chowan, Currituck, Dare, Edgecombe, Gates, Halifax, Hertford, Hyde, Martin, Nash, Northampton, Pasquotank, Perquimans, Pitt, Tyrrell, Washington, Wilson
New Bern includes: 7 out of 8 properties; total rooms: 636/701
Middle OBX includes: 5 out of 17 properties; total rooms: 611/1095; (Kitty Hawk, Duck, Nags Head)
Suffolk, VA includes: 9/12 properties; total rooms: 835/990
ADR= Average Daily RateRevPAR= Revenue Per Available Room
$0.00
$10,000.00
$20,000.00
$30,000.00
$40,000.00
$50,000.00
$60,000.00
$70,000.00
$80,000.00
$90,000.00
July August September October November December January February March April May June
Pasquotank Occupancy Tax YOY Comparison
2018-2020 2019-2020
*June 2020 is an estimate using June 2020 STR RevPar and June 2019 collections.
Old Business
City-County Restricted Funds Guidelines
Staff and Visitor Experience Committee Recommendation
Approve the updated Guidelines and Application for the City & County
Updated Guidelines for the City & County for requesting their restricted tourism expenditure funds highlights
➢ Include requirements as dictated by state legislation
➢ Remove outdated elements such as the requirement for a master plan, oversight by the TDA and a 50% match
➢ Simplify and clarify the TDA’s vision for possible tourism expenditure projects as well as non-allowed expenses
➢ Explain the process for the City and County to allow non-profits to leverage these funds
New Business
Northeastern North Carolina Inner Banks
Regional Tourism Collaboration
Staff Recommendation
Approve the resolutionsupporting this collaboration in addition to committing to $8000 in matching funds
Northeastern North Carolina Inner Banks regional tourism collaboration
➢ Partnership with our fellow Tourism Development Authorities in Hertford, Edenton, Columbia & Plymouth
➢ Support and partnership with the Albemarle Commission and VisitNC
➢ Project is to develop a regional tourism brand with accompanying visuals (logo, etc); regional tourism website and a specific, post-COVID “come and visit us” advertising campaign
➢ Grant requires a 20% match overall, so the 5 TDAs are collectively seeking $40,000 to add to the $200,000 grant ask. Total project would be $240,000
EDA Economic Adjustment Assistance Program -CARES Act Funding
OUR TOWN: Grant Program DescriptionOur Town is the National Endowment for the Arts’ creative placemaking grants program. Through project-based funding, we support projects that integrate arts, culture, and design activities into efforts that strengthen communities by advancing local economic, physical, and/or social outcomes.
Staff Recommendation
Write a letter of support for this local partnership effort plus commit to $5000 in matching funds
Highlights
➢ Partnership with our AOA, MOA, ECSU, Project Art Downtown and more
➢ Project is to develop a series of initiatives to celebrate the rich history of our port city, centered around the unifying theme of Dr. Alex Hailey – an ECSU alum, Coast Guard Officer and world-renowned author
➢ Specifically, Visit ECity is hoping to develop a digital Black history trail as one of the initiatives. Fully integrated with the proposed new artwork, this digital trail be designed in a way that encourages users to walk from one point to the next, increasing destination interest, downtown foot-traffic, and increasing visitor spending in local businesses along the way.
➢ Grant requires a 50% match overall, so the partner organizations are collectively seeking $25,000-$50,000 to add to the $25,000-$50,000 grant ask. Total project would be $50,000-$100,000
National Endowment for the Arts
Our Town Grant
Board Vacancy Updates
Dean Schaan – Joint City/County appointment Linea Johnson – County Appointment
Visit Elizabeth City FY 2020-2021 Committees
Finance (per our By-Laws)
Treasurer – Arthur McPhersonJeff DixonJohnnie WaltonGwen SandersSheri Small
Marketing
Chair – Rhonda TwiddyAndy MonteroAbel SuttonVacancy
Visitor Experience
Chair – Andy MonteroJeff DixonJohnnie WaltonVacancy
Elizabeth City-Pasquotank County Tourism Development AuthorityCommittee Meeting Schedule
FY 2020-2021
Marketing Committee
The Marketing Committee will meet the 2nd
Thursday of each month at 9:30
August 13, 2020September 10, 2020October 8, 2020November 12, 2020December 10, 2020January 14, 2021 February 11, 2021 March 11, 2021 April 8, 2021 May 13, 2021 June 10, 2021
Visitor Experience Committee
The Visitor experience Committee will meet the 3rd Thursday of the month at 10:30
August 20, 2020
September 17, 2020
October 15, 2020
November 19, 2020
December 17, 2020
January 21, 2021
February 18, 2021
March 18, 2021
April 15, 2021
May 20, 2021
June 17, 2021
Finance Committee
The Finance Committee will meet the 3rd Thursday of the month at 9:30
August 20, 2020
September 17, 2020
October 15, 2020
November 19, 2020
December 17, 2020
January 21, 2021
February 18, 2021
March 18, 2021
April 15, 2021
May 20, 2021